I would say I am quite reluctant to get involved in conflict. I don’t enjoy it and when I do get into an argument I can feel myself getting hot and my voice speeds up – neither of which engenders a confident or winning appearance. That’s not to say I don’t occasionally argue with Tom, or get into a ‘heated discussion’ with a ‘customer service’ representative on the phone who’s supposed to be helpful, or ask someone to lower the volume on their headphones on public transport – because I do (though I’m working really hard at ignoring the latter). But the point is if there’s a way to avoid getting into these confrontations, I’ll do my best to find it. So when it comes to fight, flight or freeze – my natural instinct is to fly but I am, when necessary, prepared to fight my corner. And as Denise, our social worker, pointed out during assessment it will be necessary to fight our children’s corners too when we need to.

I have seen anecdotal evidence on Twitter, in blogs and in newspapers that accessing services for our children can be an uphill struggle. Parents have constantly to fight for CAMHS referrals, the Adoption Support Fund (ASF), or other therapeutic services on an almost daily basis for months on end (situations where the ‘freeze’ – or stubborn – response might actually be helpful). Similarly, there are lots of stories about teachers and schools not working with parents or children in a therapeutic, positive or supportive way. I should point out that there are also lots of positive experiences of both post-adoption support and education services too – but I suppose it depends on the luck of the draw.

I had my first taste of local authority bureaucracy when, during the assessment process, Denise asked us to find out about local post-adoption support services. I duly contacted our local authority and asked to know about the services that were available to support adopted children. The social worker I spoke to said that as we weren’t one of the authority’s approved couples we would receive no support from them. I knew the placing local authority would fund any services for the first three years but surely it would be the local authority where the child lived that would provide the actual service and all I was looking for was information. He was having none of it. I found myself remembering why we didn’t go with our local authority in the first place and becoming irate with this guy who seemed willfully unable to help.

Somehow I remained calm (as who knew when I’d need to talk to him again in the future) and explained that I would not accept the local authority ignoring my children for the first three years of their placement. I like to think my commanding tone of voice swayed him but, whatever it was, somehow we managed to find an accord and I ended up being placed on a mailing list of events in the borough, receiving a generic list of available services and the promise that I could contact them about specific services when it was confirmed what we needed.

I felt deflated that I hadn’t received a simple answer to what I thought was a simple question but pleased that I’d held my ground and got something out of him. I also felt shocked that even a straightforward request for information was met with such hostility and difficulty. It doesn’t leave me feeling particularly positive for future interactions.

So, when it comes to our future children’s well-being my natural instinct may well have to be ‘fight’ rather than ‘flight’…something I’m not particularly looking forward to but will do regardless, to make sure they get everything they need to help them heal.

What has been your experience of accessing services for your children? What has worked for you?

We're three years in and our post-adoption support is transferring from the placing authority to our local authority. Our experience over the last three years has been mixed and just as we've got the measure of things we're having to start again with a new team.

I think overall my advice would be to do what you did on the phone with this chap - don't take no for an answer. We have had a long litany of fobbings-off but when we have stood our ground it has helped. It's also good when you find the professionals who really understand and will help advocate for your family's needs - they can make a huge difference because they have the right letters after their names. CC everyone into emails to make things move faster, and so you have records of conversations. And if you're not getting the results you want, try a different route. We have tried CAMHS applications via PAS, school and the GP. No joy yet, but we're still applying, with increasing quantities of evidence of the need... we'll get there eventually!

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ahopefuldad

8/8/2016 08:49:42 am

Hi Hannah,

Thanks so much for this advice. It's great to hear from those who have gone before us. Good luck with the change over.

Gosh, that's disgusting that they said that as you're weren't a locally approved family that they wouldn't give you access?!! Surely an approved family is just that and that you and your adopted children deserve support no matter what. How can they possibly contemplate not supporting your children without being hypocrites? Every child matters and all that..... I'm glad you managed to get somewhere with him.

What a bloody frustrating person to talk to, you'd think they want to be as helpful as possible surely? Obviously not! Good for you for holding your ground though. Like you I hate confrontation too, but since having O have found myself in situations where I've had to speak up, tell other children off etc, you do what you need to do - and so will you when needed XX

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ahopefuldad

17/8/2016 07:30:12 am

It seems to be the same all over the place. We're both getting our boxing gloves ready...

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My husband and I have adopted two wonderful children. Duckling is 5 and Gosling, her little brother, is 3. I'll be keeping track of our journey here...